Phoenix Rescue Mission Opens Mission Possible Café with New Menu by Chef Beau MacMillan

Phoenix Rescue Mission Opens Mission Possible Café with New Menu and Fresh Look

 Traditional American menu features signature dishes created by Food Network celebrity chef and Sanctuary’s Executive Chef Beau MacMillan 

PHOENIX (PRESS RELEASE) – Phoenix Rescue Mission, a leading Valley nonprofit that provides life-transforming solutions to persons facing hunger and homelessness, celebrated the grand opening of its newly designed Mission Possible Café, Thursday, Oct. 17.

The new and improved social enterprise serves as a convenient breakfast and lunch option for the downtown region, offering freshly baked bagels made with Hayden Mills Flour, a wide selection of premium Cartel Coffee Lab coffee and espresso, and a lunch menu that features signature dishes created by Food Network celebrity chef and Sanctuary Executive Chef Beau MacMillan.

“Everyone here is getting a second chance at life,” MacMillan said. “They’re going through a program where they can work and learn a vocation and a skilled trade set. They’ve come from the streets, they’ve been homeless, they need shelter, and when you come here and eat, someone is getting an opportunity to better their lives. But here’s the best part: the food is amazing; it’s inspired and quality-driven.”

Hospitality industry veteran and Phoenix Rescue Mission Director of Social Enterprise Michael Simmon oversaw the launch, which was made possible by donated services from Bar Napkin Productions, a global creative agency that specializes in design, branding and crafting meaningful hospitality experiences. Bar Napkin worked closely with Simmon and other staff members to create an entirely new dining experience with a new traditional-American menu and updated décor, including a full-color, floor-to-ceiling feature wall highlighting the copper dome of the historic Arizona State Capitol.

“We love our Phoenix community and believe in everything that the Phoenix Rescue Mission represents,” said Jeffrey Rausch, CEO of Bar Napkin Productions. “It has been an absolute joy to bring our branding expertise to such a positive organization. With everything that we do, our intent is to always bring out the maximum potential through the power of creativity and teamwork.”

Run primarily by former and current Phoenix Rescue Mission residents, the café serves as an extension of the Mission’s vocational development program, which prepares the formerly homeless men and women with professional, real-world work experience to help them end their cycle of homelessness.

“The Mission Possible Café exists to support the important work of the Phoenix Rescue Mission,” Simmon said. “As a non-profit restaurant, 100 percent of the proceeds benefit the Phoenix Rescue Mission.  Not only are you changing lives by eating at the Mission Possible Café, but you are in for one seriously delicious meal – There really is no better breakfast or lunch option in the downtown area.”

Mission Possible Cafe also houses Mission Possible Catering and gourmet cookie delivery service Mission Possible Cookies, both of which are also ran by Mission residents.

Michelle Rader, who runs Mission Possible Cookies, had graduated from the Changing Lives Center’s long-term recovery program several years ago, after battling a drug addiction for many years and eventually living out of her car with her child. Thanks to the program, she is not only supporting herself and her child, but she is thriving as a contributing member of society and recently purchased a new home.

Since the cafe originally opened in 2017, many of the resident-employees have either continued their work at the café or have gone on to managerial positions at top Valley restaurants and food chains.

For more information on Mission Possible Café and Phoenix Rescue Mission, please visit www.MissionPossibleCafe.com or www.PhoenixRescueMission.org.

Phoenix Rescue Mission: Phoenix Rescue Mission provides Christ-centered, life-transforming solutions to persons facing hunger and homelessness. The nonprofit Mission, which has been operating since 1952, is asking the public for support of its many programs designed to transform lives, including Hope for Hunger Food Bank, Hope Coach Street Outreach, Temporary Shelter Programs, Men’s Addiction Recovery Program and the Changing Lives Center for Women and Children.